Corpuscular

Part of Speech

Adjective

Pronunciation

/ˌkɔːrˈpʌskjʊlər/ (English - US)

/ˌkɔːpˈʌskjʊlə/ (English - UK)

Definitions

• Relating to or consisting of small particles.
• In physics, pertaining to the theory that light and other forms of radiation consist of discrete particles.

Usage Examples

• The corpuscular theory of light was widely accepted before the wave theory emerged.
• His research focused on the corpuscular properties of blood.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word "corpusculum," meaning "a small body," which is a diminutive of "corpus" (body).

Synonyms

• Particulate
• Granular
• Atomic

Antonyms

• Continuous
• Wave-like
• Fluid

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• American English: /ˌkɔːrˈpʌskjʊlər/
• British English: /ˌkɔːpˈʌskjʊlə/
• Indian English: /ˌkɔːrˈpʌskjʊlɑːr/

Historical Usage

The corpuscular theory of light was first proposed by Isaac Newton in the 17th century, suggesting that light consists of tiny particles.

Cultural Nuances

In scientific discourse, "corpuscular" is commonly used in physics and medicine, particularly in discussions about blood cells and radiation.

More Information

The term "corpuscular" is most frequently encountered in physics, where it is used to describe the particle-like nature of light in quantum mechanics. While the corpuscular theory of light was largely replaced by the wave theory, modern quantum physics recognizes both wave and particle characteristics of light. In medicine, the term is often used in relation to red blood cells, such as in the term "mean corpuscular volume," which measures the average size of red blood cells.